Unrequited

[Squall]

"It wasn't grats I know it!" A piercing voice yelled angrily from inside the infirmary. Curious, Squall quickened his pace.

"Hyne Selphie, I have a headache, can't you yell outside or something!?" Seifer's normally smooth baritone voice wavered. Coming to a stop outside the small room, he could see Selphie quivering with anger as she shouted fiercely at... Quistis?

"What!? No, this is for your own good!" Selphie snapped at the lone figure on the bed.

Hyne, Seifer...

He'd never seen Seifer like this before. His normally proud arch rival was lying defeated on the small hospital bed, his body covered in bandages and left his arm done up in sling. His pale face scrunched up in a cringe as Selphie continued fuming.

"Quistis, you can't let this go!" Squall turned his attention away from the injured ex-knight, focusing instead on the continuing argument. "His injuries are not consistent with anything the grats can do, or any monster in the training center and you know it!"

Having heard enough to more then warrant his curiosity, Squall spoke up. "How's it not consistent Selphie?"

All eyes snapped over to him as he walked into the room, ignoring Seifer completely as he confronted the hysterical brunette. Curiously, she was only dressed in blue jeans, socks and an over sized t-shirt; her brown hair was tousled, as if she'd only just gotten out of bed. With renewed hope in her eyes, she turned from Quistis to argue her point with him. instead.

"Squall, Seifer was attacked! By students, I know it1 Just look at Dr. Kadowaki's report!" Shoving the file into his hands, she continued her rant. "Do grats cause knife wounds!? No!"

His blue-gray eyes widened as he read Seifer's file. '(IT)Multiple laturations, three requiring stitches, two broken ribs, left Ulna fractured, mild concussion, multiple bruises...' Hyne Seifer, what happened too you...

Unable to face his rival, he kept his eyes on small window in the room. "Seifer, what happened? Who attacked you?"

"What do you care?" Squall turned sharply at Seifer's tone but the blond was just watching him, his jade eyes dark and empty. He didn't understand where it was coming from.

"I-I don't, but no student should be allowed to think they can get away with this." Hyne, he sounded so cold. Seifer's eyes darkened further and a look of hurt flashed across his face.

"Then it doesn't matter."

"What!?"

"Seifer!"

Seifer turned back to Selphie, his eyes softening at bit, "Sel, thanks for the concern, but it doesn't matter."

Storming over, she all but slapped him. "Why! If they think away with this now, then they'll do it again!"

"No, they won't. Not again." He sighed quietly, eyes focused on the wall. "I'm transferring to Galbadia Garden."

Transfer...He's leaving? When did he..?

"Why didn't I know about this." He snapped at Quistis. She was headmistress, he would have had to go through her. They were supposed to be friends, but then he thought him and Seifer were friends... no, no they weren't were they?

"I-I didn't know." Quistis looked just as surprised by the announcement as him. Glancing at the ex-knight, she gave him an almost understanding look.

Understanding? What, she approves of this!?

"No, I was going to talk to her about it this morning, but..." Shrugging, he gave her a humorless smile. "Well, I guess now's a good time as any huh?"

He couldn't believe this. Seifer would leave, just like that. After all the work that went in to get him in, for him to become SeeD and he was just going to leave?

"Selphie, Quistis, can you leave us?" Both girls gave him mixed looks of surprise and incredulity, but they left closing the door quietly behind them.

"What the hell Seifer!" Storming over to the bed, he gave the blond a glare that could beat Shiva's Diamond Dust "What, a few student get the better of you and your just going to run away like a damned coward!?"

"Fuck you Leonhart!" Struggling to sit up, he gave a sharp gasp of pain as he jostled his broken ribs. "You don't know anything!"

"Then tell me!" He felt his voice rising as the last of his control and temper snapped; he harshly pushed Seifer back down on to the bed.

"Like you care," the blond pushed himself up, trying to wriggle out of Squall's grip.

"Would it surprise you if I might?" He grit his teeth as he held the man down, "and stop this, you're going to hurt yourself!"

Seifer stopped struggling and gave him an incredulous look. "Yeah, it would."

Letting go of the blond, he shifted to sit on the edge of the bed. Sighing, he struggled to find away to explain himself. He couldn't just blurt out what he was feeling. Even if it didn't sound ridiculous, it just wasn't him; but he had to say something.

"Seifer, I-" Biting his lower lip, he refused to meet Seifer's curious gaze. "I don't want you to leave."

"Why?"

Annoyance flickered inside him as he realized he would have to give some kind of reason. "I just don't."

There was pause from the blond, but he didn't dare look over, unsure of what he might see. After a few moments there came a snort from the man and he risked a glance.

Seifer crossed his arms in mock frustration. "That's a lame excuse, doncha think."

"Mm, maybe." Berating himself for the childish excuse, he pleasantly noted the silent agreement in the blonds familiar taunting. Turning back to the older teen, he registered the bandages still covering his body and a good excuse to change the subject. "Why hasn't Dr. Kadowaki given you any potions?"

Squall ignored the grimace given by the ex-knight as he attempted to shrug nonchalantly. "Didn't ask, so..."

Frowning, Squall made a mental note to speak to the Dr about that later... or now. "Well, you ribs are still broken so you'll be here for a few days at least. I need to think- I need to go over a few things so I'll come by later."

"Yeah, okay." Seifer was still giving him an inquisitive look. Inquisitive and...intrigued? No, just my imagination, I'm sure. Hyne I need to get out of here. Giving the blond one last nod he left the small room, barely sparing the impatient girls -it seemed Rinoa had joined their ranks- a glance as he made his way to his office. Oh yeah, he had a lot of things to think about.

Shit, he'd meant to speak with Dr. Kadowaki before he left; his mind was really distracted. He debated going back, but Rinoa was back there and he really wasn't in the mood to be around her right now. Groaning, he decided calling her would be best.

Good one problemm down, just a hundred to go... and it was supossed to be his day off.